Nate Allen Returns On One-Year Deal

The Eagles welcomed back safety Nate Allen as he signed a one-year deal Monday.

An intelligent and athletic safety, Allen emerged as a steadying force in the Eagles secondary in 2013. Allen was third on the team with a career-high 94 tackles. He also had a sack and an interception as he started all 16 regular season games for the first time in his career as he appeared to have found a home in coordinator Bill Davis' scheme - Allen's fourth different coordinator.

In 59 career regular season games (54 starts), the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Allen has 310 tackles, six interceptions, three sacks and 23 pass knockdowns. He has increased his tackle total in each of his four seasons.

Allen has always been a capable centerfielder who excels in coverage, but what stood out most about him in 2013 was how much his tackling improved. On numerous occasions he made major solo stops to prevent big gains. Allen was confident and decisive, allowing his instincts to take over and just reacting and playing, instead of thinking and delaying for even a spilt second.

In 2010, Allen, 26, started 13 games in his debut season and became the only player in Eagles history to record at least three interceptions and two sacks in his rookie campaign before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. He bounced back from the injury in 2011, collaring 76 tackles and notching two interceptions in 15 games.

A second-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2010, Allen was a captain at South Florida in college, compiling nine career interceptions and three touchdowns for the Bulls en route to second-team All-Big East honors during his senior season. Allen attended Cape Coral (Fla.) High School, where he was a two-time Class 5A All-State honorable mention selection and a three-time All-Area honoree.